Danny Kaye: A Showman's Life

Lot #10:

Moss Hart and Richard Rodgers (4) Correspondence with Danny and Sylvia Kaye.

Danny Kaye, 1940s-1960s, Danny Kaye. Collection of (4) vintage pieces of personalized correspondence to and from theatrical luminaries, including 1-Moss Hart typed letter on 8.5 x 5.5 in. on Random House, Inc. letterhead, dated “September 14, 1959" and reading, “Dearest Danny and Sylvia: Just before I left for Europe in June, I sent you an inscribed copy of ACT ONE. It seems that a number of the books went astray and I am anxious to know if you received yours, because I wanted you very much to have one. Hastily," and is signed, “Moss," 1-Sylvia Kaye typed letter on 8.5 x 11 in. paper in response to the previous letter, reading in part, “I had hoped to write you a long long letter in longhand – as a matter of fact, a joint letter from Danny and me, and was waiting for Danny to finish the book. Two things conspired to change my lovely plan. First, your letter of inquiry, and second, the fact that Danny and I are quite suddenly going to Europe. We leave tomorrow and won't be back until sometime in November. I couldn't think of going without telling you even briefly what an impact the book made on me." The letter goes on to speak admiringly about the contents of the tome, and concludes with, “P.P.S. It occurs to me that I should tell you that Danny, who is in the middle of the book, walks around muttering, ‘It's a great book. It's really a very great book.'" The letter is unsigned. Including 1-Richard Rodgers typed letter on 10.5 x 7.25 in. on personal letterhead, dated “January 11, 1965" and reading, in part, “It is my pleasant privilege to invite you to join the Honorary Committee sponsoring the presentation of the 1964 Mary MacArthur Award to the late Oscar Hammerstein II," and goes on to say, “Mrs. Oscar Hammerstein II will accept the Award on March 2, 1965 at a supper immediately following the World Premiere of the film version of ‘The Sound of Music' starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The Premiere of this, the last play on which Oscar and I collaborated, has been donated by Twentieth Century Fox to benefit the Mary MacArthur Fund - March of Dimes….Sincerely," and is signed, “Dick." The letter has been underlined in blue ink along the words, “Award," March 2, 1965," “will join our committee" and “share this evening." Including 1-1941 9 x 7 in. Playbill for the NYC Alvin Theater production of Moss Hart's play Lady in the Dark starring Gertrude Lawrence, with a sepia-toned image of the actress on the cover. Handwritten on the top left in purple link is, “From: Sulka." Notably, Lady in the Dark was the play that cemented Danny Kaye's stardom, where, in a show-stopping song called “Tchaikovsky" Kaye breathlessly rattled off the names of fifty-odd Russian composers in thirty-nine seconds. The Playbill also includes an advert where Kaye would perform “twice nightly after theatre" at La Martinique, a popular nightclub of the era. Documents exhibiting expected age, handling, original transmittal folds, with some foxing, curling along some edges, and minor paper loss to the Sylvia Fine letter not affecting the text. In vintage good to very good condition. From the personal collection of Danny and Sylvia Fine Kaye.